Gazza had an excellent career after leaving Tottenham and played 204 more times, contributing 37 goals and bags of assists, but never really reached the pinnacle of the sport as he perhaps should have done.

Sir Alex Ferguson could have been the guiding influence the troubled midfielder needed in his career/life?

The first time was before Ronaldinho made the switch from French club PSG to Spanish super club Barcelona, for whom he played 145 times, scoring 70 goals on his way to super stardom.

Paulo Di Canio

When he wasn't pushing referees over or making Nazi salutes Paulo Di Canio was one of the most exciting and skilful players ever to have played in the Premier League scoring some truly wonderful goals for West Ham.

He made 118 appearances for the Hammers scoring 48 goals. The Daily Mail recently carried a story from the man himself who claimed that Ferguson had twice spoken to him about a move to United and twice he had turned him down, although he admitted the first time he received the call he had assumed it was a friend pranking him!

The second time came after the 2008 Champions League final, but again Di Canio politely declined.

Kaka

Another player who could have moved to United on more than one occasions is Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, or Kaka to you and I.

Rumours that United were first interested in Kaka first surfaced when he moved from AC Milan to Real Madrid in 2009 and never really went away.

Last week The Sun carried the story that Jose Mourinho had actually blocked Kaka from leaving Real Madrid in 2013, with United lurking, looking to bring the brilliant Brazilian to Old Trafford.

Despite having dropped down the pecking order at the Bernabeu, Mourinho is quoted as having said he would have let him go, but not to one of Europe's elite clubs.

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DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

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